Aluchina (Russian:Лучина) is a long thin sliver/chip or plate of wood, most commonly used as a miniaturetorch for makeshift lighting of the interiors of buildings in the history ofRussia.[1] Similar implements were used in other countries, e.g.,Poland (calledpl:Łuczywo),Ukraine (calleduk:Скіпка or Лучина[2]).
An early mention of the use ofluchina for lighting in western sources may be found inFletcter'sOf the Russe Common Wealth (1591):
...their greater menne vſe much waxe for their lightes, poorer and meaner ſorte birch dried in their ſtoaues, and cut into long ſliuers, which they callLuchineos.[3]
Luchinas are best used fromluchina cuts of log; it was steam-heated in aRussian stove for easy splintering. Splintering was done with the help of a special large knife calledluchinnik.[1] orkosar [ru]. It may also be done with a special implement, similar to a carpenter'splane.[4]
For lighting,luchina is inserted in a crack in the wooden wall or in a special holder calledsvetets.[1] A small metalsvetets may be stuck in a wooden wall. A more elaboratesvetets may be manufactured with a stand. A small basin with water is usually placed under thesvetets, to collect ashes and coals.
In Poland,luczywo, known under various regional names, could also be placed in a special cavity in the stove or on a special hearth attached to the stove, or in hanging holders.[5]
InPolesian hutsluchinas were burned usingsvitach (Світач, Polish:Świtacz), an implement that consisted of wooden pipe leading through the roof, under which an iron grate was hanging, on whichluchinas were burned.[6]
A part of servicing ofluchina/luczywo, usually done by children, was to remove the charred tips, for brighter light.[7]
Usage ofluchina/luczywo had a number of drawbacks enumerated in an 1828 article by a colonel Piotr Kołogriwow, which suggested to use burning ofhemp stalks for lighting.[8] He identified the following issues:
Kołogriwow argues all the above drawbacks are absent if hemp were to be used.[8]
Russian archeologists posed a question when luchinas were started to be used for lighting in Russia. Possible indicators would have been finding of luchina holders (svetets), but this indicator is unreliable for the determination of the earliest date, because luchinas can be simply inserted into a crack of a wall. Another way is search for lucina's unburned tinder ends (and having a reliable way to distinguish them from other kinds of partially burned pieces of wood). Archeologists ofNovgorod sought for luchina ends in various strata and found no remnants of those in strata dated between the 11th and first half of 13th centuries.[9]
Luchanas were commonly used askindling to start a fire and for makinglaths forlath and plaster works.[1][10]
InOlonets Governorate (Karelia),pine luchina was commonly used forbasket weaving, both for home usage and for sale.[11]
"Дрань" .Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian). 1906.